Two New Hampshire women's hockey players named to Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ballot as top player

01/10/2002

DURHAM, N.H. - Senior center Kira Misikowetz (Mississauga, Ont.) and junior goaltender Jen Huggon (Plymouth, Mass.) of the University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team have been selected to the ballot for the 2002 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which is bestowed annually to the most outstanding women's college hockey player.

The 10 candidates, who are chosen from the ballot, will be announced at the end of January and the award will be presented March 23, which is the off day for the Frozen Four that is hosted by the University of New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center.

UNH's Brandy Fisher won the inaugural Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 1998. In 1999, both Nicki Luongo and Carisa Zaban were named candidates and Luongo, a current UNH assistant coach, was named a finalist. Zaban was a candidate again in 2000 and was voted a finalist. Last year, UNH's Michelle Thornton was a candidate for the award.

Misikowetz is currently tied for second in the nation in assists (1.11 per game) and is eighth in scoring at 1.47 points per game. She leads UNH in both assists (21) and points (28) and also has a team-best +20 rating. Her season highlights include a five-assist game vs. Quinnipiac University (Nov. 3) and eight multiple-point games. Misikowetz attained a pair of personal milestones earlier this season by eclipsing 100 career points and 75 career assists. Her career numbers include 40 goals and 81 assists for 121 points in 111 games (1.09 ppg).

Huggon is ranked fourth in the nation in goals-against-average at 1.51 and is seventh in save percentage (.933). She has started 17 games and compiled a 10-5-2 record with three shutouts. Huggon's season highlights include a shutout streak of 245 minutes, 29 seconds that included consecutive shutouts vs. Boston College and Wisconsin (twice). Huggon is ranked on UNH's Top 5 career lists for: saves (2nd, 1,687), save percentage (5th, .920), shutouts (tie-5th, 10), games played (tie-3rd, 72) and minutes played (3rd, 4280:22).

New Hampshire, ranked No. 8 with a 12-5-2 record (7-1-1 ECAC East) returns to action Jan. 11 at eighth-ranked Niagara University (14-5-0, 8-2-0 ECAC East). The next Wildcat home game is Jan. 18 vs. St. Cloud State University. Game time at the Whittemore Center is 7 p.m .